Description
GIFT
Released January 10, 2008
Frankie Moreno’s album GIFT is a bold and innovative fusion of classical and rock music, featuring intense arrangements that bring together his rock band and a string quartet. Recorded in just one evening, this album captures the raw energy and creative synergy of the musicians, resulting in a powerful and genre-defying sound. This marks a pivotal moment in Moreno’s career, showcasing his fearless approach to music and his ability to blend different genres seamlessly. A true testament to Moreno’s artistic vision, carving out a unique path in the music world.
Produced by Frankie Moreno & Tony Moreno
Mixed and Mastered by Lou Salveson
Luccivanni Publishing – BMI / Featherpen Publishing – BMI
Released on Bermuda Records ©2008
SINGLES CHARTING:
“Smile”
#191 Apple Music Rwanda Rock Charts – 8/3/24
Featuring:
“Excerpt From Ein Dutzend Gelbe Roses”, “Sugar Highs”, “Spoiled”, “Smile”, “Walk Away From Me”, “Free”, “Vague”, “Carousel”, “Every Second”, “Schitzo Scherzo”, “Point Of No Return”, “Shadows”, “Under Control”, “Fugue Trio In C Minor”, “What Would You Do”, “Can’t Go Back”
INSIDE THE ALBUM with Frankie:
This project was unlike anything we had ever done before. Up until this point, our approach was simple: we’d write an album, make a few thousand copies, and sell them at our shows. Every year or two, we’d release a collection of our favorite songs—tracks we had road-tested in the clubs we played.
But this time, something changed. We became fascinated by the evolution of music—the way styles transformed over time and how we arrived at the sounds of today. I dove deep into the history of music, studying the classical composers and even those who came before them. To truly immerse myself, I began taking private music theory lessons again, as well as learning instruments I hadn’t mastered yet—violin, cello, brass, you name it. I wanted to understand music in its entirety.
We were also intrigued by how technology shaped the music industry. Why were songs a certain length? Why did albums have a set number of tracks? For example, in the 1950s, most songs were around two minutes long, and albums typically held 10 to 12 songs. This wasn’t an artistic decision—it was simply what a vinyl record could hold at the time. A total of 22 minutes.
When the first commercial compact disc was released in the early 1980s, it could hold about 74 minutes of music, a length chosen because the president of Sony wanted to fit Beethoven’s entire 9th Symphony on one disc.
Inspired by the blend of old and new, we decided to mix modern and classical elements in our next album. We used all real instruments, incorporating live strings to complement the rhythm section, which had a rock feel. The horns brought in a jazz and funk vibe, while classically composed string lines wove through the whole arrangement, giving this album its distinctive sound. To push the envelope even further, instead of sticking to the typical 10-song, 35-minute format, we filled the entire CD to its maximum capacity, seamlessly tying the songs together like a symphony.
We recorded the whole album in a single day, and then came the fun part: Instead of selling the usual batch of copies at our shows, we printed 20,000 copies and gave them away for free. We raised funds through fan donations to make it happen, which is how we arrived at the album’s title—“Gift”.
